Blumenthal's Margs visit cancelled after crash tragedy

Top chef Heston Blumenthal will not visit Margaret River this weekend for the Gourmet Escape following the death of two of his chefs in a horrific car crash.

A statement from organisers of the event confirmed this afternoon that Blumenthal had pulled out.

"Due to the horrific news that two of Heston Blumenthal's culinary team were tragically killed in a car accident in Hong Kong two days ago, we regret to inform you that Heston will not be attending Margaret River Gourmet Escape," it said.

"Event organisers, Brand Events, support Heston Blumenthal at this very sensitive time, our thoughts are with him and his staff."

The chefs, from Blumenthal's Michelin-starred restaurant Fat Duck were killed on Monday in a road accident in Hong Kong that also left their taxi driver dead and injured 56 other people.

Blumenthal was scheduled to take part in this weekend's celebration of food where a dinner named in his honour was expected to recognise his gastronomic contribution to the food industry.

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A spokesman for the restaurant told the UK's Daily Mail that two members of their team had been "tragically killed in a car accident".

"They were both senior members and great and dear friends," the spokesman said.

"(They were) two uniquely talented young chefs that were loved by everyone who worked with them. They will be sadly and deeply missed."

The Daily Mail reported that British chef Ivan Aranto Herrera Jorge, 34, and Carl Magnus Lindgren, 30, of Sweden died after a bus driver lost consciousness and careered down a hill, hitting two cars, the taxi and another bus.

The chefs and driver were trapped in the cab for more than an hour before firemen could free them from the wreckage. They were later declared dead at the hospital.

The chefs had been in Hong Kong with Jonny Lake, the head chef of The Fat Duck, to promote a new Blumenthal restaurant. Mr Lake had tweeted a picture of Mr Jorge and Mr Lindgren along with another chef preparing a special dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong on Saturday night.

The bus driver has since been arrested for dangerous driving resulting in death and later released on bail.

Organisers of the Gourmet Escape said all events would take place as scheduled, including the Icon Dinner named for Blumenthal.